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Mike’s Next Adventure

Nikko and Nara Sitting in a Tree

An article by mabukach

Two hours, by train, north of Tokyo (¥500), in the Saitamo prefecture, sits the little town of Satte.

Not much going on in the Satte; a commuter town, but serves as a great jumping point to the north, and there’s an amazing Nepalese restaurant just down the main strip with the greatest cheesy garlic naan/chicken curry in the world.

And, then there’s ‘Carol’, a karaoke joint just outside the train station, recently learned in the art of CCR by a golden-throated blogger.

Satte is also home to heart-throb blogger, good friend, and all around awesome guy—Mr. Daniel Sakamoto.

Danny is forced gracious enough to let us crash at his place for many, many days.

NIKKO: Day Trip Ichi (一)

An hour plus train ride (Tobu Line ~ ¥900) from Satte, is Nikko; a small, Colorado-feel town with UNESCO World Heritage Temples/Shrines within walking distance of the train.

I Want this house.

Bridge Over Not-So-Troubled Water

The weather brews up something cold and wet, perpetuating the dormancy of most antique and novelty shop owners on the strip up to the park. Across a bridge, up through misty mountain goodness surrounded by verdant, moss-carpeted terrain beneath the ancient cedar umbrellas.

Om.

Toshogu Shrine: a noticeable change in style occurs. Gone are the simplistic, somber hues of the previous Japanese temples, scared off by the more colorful Chinese-influenced intricacies, and ornateness.

Converted Pizza Hut

Toshogu is home to the 3 wise monkeys (Hear No, See No, Speak No Evil Monkeys), which–like the Mona Lisa–is completely mobbed while some of the more stunning artistry on the sacred warehouses, gates, and towers are bereft of camera flashes. Stupid monkeys (kidding, they’re great).

Sitting, watching the rain from under a temple roof, surrounded by an ancient cedar forest, listening to gravel crunch under the politely mute, footsteps of tourists, soaking in the naturally diffused vibrancy of the temple—a zen-influenced, sense-aware tranquility swells.

The gregarious deer just wander wherever they want, pooping/peeing freely. Women sell cookies to tourists, to feed the deer, for more pooping. They’re pretty mangy (the deer, not the cookie women), these four-legged free-loaders.

Give me a cookie, bitch!

See their ten-yard stare? Stoners. Like those Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel guys. They beg people for handouts, eat organic cookies all day, and nap. Then they go and bite, kick, butt, and knock-down the hand that feeds them. Fucking hippies.

4-move combo. Nara Deer Wins!

Todaiji: A massive buddhist complex, and according to most outlets, the world’s largest wooden structure. Amazingly, Todaiji is 30% less of its original size, as fire/earthquakes/godzilla’s grandpa ate away at a significant amount. The current rebuild is from 1709!

Taking Pictures of Picture taking.

Inside the deer-less complex sits a massive, 50 foot-tall bronze depiction of buddha, or Daibutsu (large buddha). The picture above really doesn’t do justice, but this was an impressive scene, with some awe-inspiring wood/metalworking artistry; artistry I could definitely manage with the proper tools, time, and…oh who am I kidding, no fucking way I could this.

We walk through Nara’s endless park, taking in the beautiful weather, lakes, gazebos, and cherry blossoms.

Contrary to US (nationalistic) thought , Cherry Blossoms are not native to Washington DC (and do not bear fruit), but were gifted from Japan in 1912, and ceremoniously planted by then first lady, Helen Taft.

Helen Taft’s husband, William Howard, died of complications from a cherry eclair addiction— cherry eclairs mass-produced in NaraDeer, New Jersey. Coincidence? I think not!

Join me next week for more Japan Adventures. I’ll also be posing a very important question to the masses of Roam About readers — Mike

Firstly, why does that girl in the KICK picture series warning against romantic relationships with deer have antlers???! Is growing antlers a hazard of petting them? Or did the deer just give her his? Also, did you know that Asians (whether Thai or Chinese, I cannot say) developed the large-scale bronze sculpture technique that allows a Buddha like the one pictured to be made “in one pour” — meaning not cast in parts, and then welded together like they do in other countries? Amaze-balls again, Mike. Thanks for the desktop travels….

You know, Laura, I thought the same exact thing. Then, my friend Nastya pointed out they were flailing pig-tails (i like the antler scenario better).

I did not know that. Really, really interesting. So, they built the scaffolding/mold, and poured all the metal from the top? Crazy?
It’s the second oldest buddha shrine, and I think the last touch-up on the Nara Buddha was the 1600’s. Its face got burnt in a fire. Still looking good!

Thanks for the lesson – I think I learn something new from you every week.

Yay, glad to have you along. The population distribution is really skewed in Japan. Incredibly dense in Tokyo, then there were places I wandered off where I was all alone (future post). Interesting stuff.

I love that movie. Bill Murray was robbed of an Oscar. I looked up that hotel bar he kept going to in the movie, but it was a $40 cover, and a two drink minimum (drinks were like $30 a pop). No thanks.

Thanks, Honie, we are moved!
Marti had everything labeled appropriately for the correct room(s), and I did mini-runs the night before with her Element.
Rented a big truck, bribed all our friends to help with the big stuff, and did it in 4 hours. Still sore from the experience, and I’ve promised to pay people to move us next time. 🙂
Any tips on tiling?

Go to Home Depot. You can do it, they can help. That’s what they say in the commercials anyway. What are you tiling? a bath? kitchen? All I can say is measure twice, cut once. I’m more of the drywall sort. I have wallpapered and painted. A LOT. It’s kind of my specialty. Good luck!

Tiling a kitchen. Just doing the backsplash. I’m pumping myself up for it, but, I think we’ll be alright.
I’m with you; better with drywall, or anything having to do with woodwork.
Not a fan of painting. Luckily Roam About mom and Marti painted the entire house.
I did help scrape off disgusting wallpaper. It was bad.